Control mechanism for electric circuits



Sept. 12, 1939. D. BARRIE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS FiledJuly 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 r v l 1 x I I l J D. BARRIE Sept. 12,1939.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed July 1, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1939. BARR]; 2,172,492

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC cmcums Filed July 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet5 E DonaldBarre,

Sept. 12, 1939. D. BARRIE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS E mm a.E

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISMFOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a time-scheduled radio receiving system; thatis, to a radio receiving system embodying means operable automaticallyto tune a receiver to different selected wave lengths at differentpredetermined times, and has particular reference to a time-scheduledradio receiving system of the character described and claimed in myprior application, Serial No. 159,- 029, filed August 14, 1937, of whichthis application is, in major part, a continuation. Generally speaking,the object of the invention is to provide a practical time-scheduledradio receiving system which is simple, inexpensive, highly flexiblerespecting the number and the selectivity of the wave lengths to whichit may be tuned automatically; which is easy to manually adjust topredetermine the particular wave length to which the receiver will betuned at any predetermined time, and which is thoroughly reliable andefficient in operation.

With the foregoing and various other objects in view, which will becomemore fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood,the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, and in the novel mode of operation, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure l is a front elevation of a radio receiver equipped with acontrol means in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the receiver.

Figure 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevation on a contact panel of the control means.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Figure '7 is a detail section on the line I-I of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of an element of the control means which isrotatable with the tuning condensers of the radio receiver and whichcarries adjustable actuators for a switch of the control means.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 6; and

Figure 10 is a diagram of the control means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A desig- 'nates a cabinet which maybe of any suitable construction and design and which is understood tocontain the various electrical elements and connections comprising aradio receiver, said elements and connections for the most part notbeing illustrated because they may be of any 5 known type and because,in themselves, they are inconsequential so far as the present inventionis concerned. On the other hand, the present invention is veryparticularly concerned with that element of the receiver which isadjustable to tune the receiver to different wave lengths; that is, forthe reception of the broadcasts of different broadcasting stations. Suchelement may have different forms, but, usually, it has the form of avariable condenser, or a plurality of variable condensers, the movableplates of which are mounted on a single shaft for unitary rotativeadjustment relative to cooperating stator plates. Accordingly, avariable condenser is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings ascomprising the adjustable element for tuning the receiver to differentwave lengths, said condenser comprising, as usual, stator plates I I!and cooperating movable plates II mounted on a rotatable shaft I2 forrotative adjustment with said shaft relative to 25 said stator plates.The shaft I2 is, of course, mounted in suitable supports within thecabinet A and, as usual, may be equipped at its forward end with apointer I3 for cooperation with a station indicating dial or chartvisible at the front of the cabinet A. Moreover, a knob I4 is providedas usual for manual rotative adjustment of the shaft I2 and thecondenser blades carried thereby, and, in accordance with the present invention, a reversible electric motor I5 is suitably mounted within thecabinet A and is suitably connected with said shaft I2 for powerrotative adjustment of said shaft and of the condenser blades carriedthereby.

According to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in thepresent instance, the driving connection between the motor I5 and theshaft I2 is comprised by a belt I6 extending over pulleys I1 and I8 onthe motor shaft and the condenser shaft I2, respectively. Also,according to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in thepresent instance, the knob I4 not only is rotatable to rotatively adjustthe shaft I2, but is mounted for push-pull operation to actuate switchmeans for determining whether the shaft I2 shall be manually or powerdriven. To this end, the knob I4 is carried by a shaft I4 which ismounted for inward and outward movement as well as for rotation, andbehind and in alinement with said shaft I4 is suitably mounted arotatable stub shaft 9. On the stub shaft i9 is a pulley l9 andextending over this pulley and over a pulley on the shaft l2 is a belt2|. Moreover, on the shafts l4 and I9 are suitable clutch means whichare engageable to connect said shafts for unitary rotation by pushing onthe knob l4 and thereby sliding the shaft l4 inwardly, and which aredisengageable to disconnect said shafts by pulling on said knob andthereby sliding said shaft I4 outwardly. Thus, when the knob 4 is pushedinwardly it is operatively connected with the shaft l2 and is effective,by rotation, to rotatably adjust said shaft. On the other hand, whensaid knob 4 is pulled it is disconnected from the shaft l2 and thelatter then is rotatively adjustable only by the motor I5.

The switch means actuated by pushing and pulling of the knob |4 may beof any suitable design and is illustrated in the diagrammatic view, Fig.10, as comprising a first pair of fixed contacts 22 and 23, a secondpair of fixed contacts 24 and 25, a third pair of fixed contacts 26 and27, and cooperating contacts 28 carried by the shaft l4" and arranged sothat when said shaft is pushed inwardly the switch comprising thecontacts 22 and 23 is closed and the switches comprising the contacts24, and 26, 21 are opened, and when said shaft is pulled outwardly thefirst mentioned switch is opened and the latter mentioned switches areclosed.

As will later appear, it is not necessary to combine the switchactuating means and the means for manually adjusting the shaft l2, in asingle device. On the contrary, said switch actuating means and saidmanual adjusting means may be entirely separate and distinct from eachother, but an arrangement such as shown and described is preferredbecause of its simplicity and compactness and because the knob I4 isdisconnected from the shaft I2 and therefore is not rotated therewithwhen said shaft is driven by the motor In further accordance with theinvention, a clock, designated generally as 29, and preferably but notnecessarily of the electric type, is suitably mounted in or upon thecabinet A and suitably drives a pair of switch arms 30 and 3|,

the first in harmony with its hour hand or arbor and the second inharmony with its minute hand or arbor.

The switch arm 30 cooperates with a circular conductor 32 and also witha circular series of spaced apart contacts 33, said switch arm, or asuitable contact thereon, being in constant en gagement with theconductor 32 and successively engaging the contacts 33 as it rotates inharmony with the hour hand or arbor of the clock 29. There may be anydesired number of the contacts 33 depending upon the duration ofbroadcast periods, but since the usual broadcast period has a durationof fifteen minutes, there preferably are forty-eight of said contacts33, one for each of the fifteen minute periods represented by travel ofthe switch arm 30 through three hundred and sixty degrees, or, in otherwords one for each of the fifteen minute periods represented by travelof the hour hand or arbor of the clock through a complete revolution.The said contacts 33 may be mounted in any suitable manner and arespaced equal distances apart. Thus, they are related, respectively, tothe said forty-eight fifteen minute periods which elapse during travelof the arm 30 through a complete circle, and they are positioned so thatthey are successively engaged by said arm 30, or by a contact carriedthereby, at the beginning of said fifteen minute periods. Moreover, eachcontact 33, in conjunction with the circular conductor 32 and the arm 30comprises an electric switch. Accordingly, said switches aresuccessively closed, and openel, by rotation of the arm 30, at timescorresponding to the beginning of the successive fifteen minute periodswhich elapse during rotation of said arm 33.

The other switch arm, 3|, cooperates with four sets of contacts on asuitable fixed panel 34, said sets of contacts being spaced ninetydegrees apart in accordance with the angular movement of said arm 3|which occurs during the elapse of each fifteen minute period. Moreover,said sets of contacts are arranged so that the arm 3| cooperates withthe same substantially at the beginning of each fifteen minute period.Thus, it is apparent that, as the clock 29 operates, the switch arm 3|cooperates with a first set of its related contacts while the switch arm30 is 00- operating with the first of a group of four of the contacts33; that said switch arm 3| operates with the next set of its relatedcontacts while the switch arm 33 is cooperating with the second of thesaid group of four contacts 33; and that said switch arm 3| cooperateswith the third and the fourth sets of its related contacts while theswitch arm 33 is cooperating with the third and the fourth contacts,respectively, of the said group of four of the contacts 33. Further, itis apparent that, as the clock continues to operate and the switch arm3| completes its rotation and again cooperates with the first of itsrelated sets of contacts, the switch arm 30 will cooperate with thefirst of a second group of four of the contacts 33 and so onindefinitely.

While the means comprising the present invention may be designed tocontrol automatic tuning of the radio receiver to any desired number ofwave lengths within practical limits, said means has arbitrarily beenillustrated in the present instance as designed for tuning the receiverto five different wave lengths. In this connection, it is pointed outthat each of the four sets of contacts on the panel 34 is composed ofcompanion, spaced pairs of contacts and that there are as many of saidpairs in each set as the number of wave lengths with respect to whichautomatic tuning is to be controlled. Accordingly, there are, in thepresent instance, in each of said sets of contacts, five separate pairsof contacts, those of the first set being designed as 35, 33, 31', 38and 39, and 35, 36, 31', 38' and 39, respectively; those of the secondset as 40, 4|, 42, 43 and 4-4 and 43, 4|, 42', 43 and 44, respectively;those of the third set as 45, 46, 47, 43 and 49 and 45, 43, M, 48 and49, respectively; and those of the fourth set as 58, 5|, 52, 53 and 54and 50, 5|, 52, 53' and 54, respectively. In addition, each of said setsof contacts has related thereto an additional pair of spaced contacts55, 55 disposed slightly in advance of its related set of contacts asregards the direction of rotation of the switch arm 3|.

The switch arm 3| carries a set of contacts 56 to respectively bridgethe five different pairs of contacts in each of the four sets ofcontacts on the panel 34 as said switch arm moves into alinement withsaid sets of contacts. Also, said switch arm 3| carries an additionalcontact 3? to bridge each of the four pairs of contacts 55, 55 justprior to simultaneous, or substantially simultaneous, bridging of thefive different pairs of contacts of each set by the series of contacts56.

Either directly on the front of the cabinet A, or on a suitable panel orbroadcast station indicating dial, are as many concentric, circularseries of contacts as the number of wave lengths or broadcast stationswith respect to which the receiver is to be automatically controlled. Inthis connection, since the present mechanism is designed to controlautomatic tuning in respect to five different wave lengths or broadcaststations, there are five of said circular series of contacts, designatedas 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62, respectively, each series related to adifferent wave length or broadcast station. Moreover, in each of said.series there are forty-eight contacts spaced equal distances apart so asto correspond to the fortyeight fifteen minute periods which elapseduring twelve hours, or, in other words, during travel of the switch armthrough a complete revolution.

The contacts of the series 58, 59, 66, 6! and 62 are arranged inforty-eight radial rows, and related to each row is a radially disposedelectrical conductor 63 carrying, for manual adjustment therealong, acontact finger 64 which, by adjustment along said conductor, may beengaged with any one of the contacts in the related radial row.

There are, of course, forty-eight of the conductors 63, one for each ofthe related forty-eight radial rows of contacts, and on each of saidconductors there is only a single contact finger which may be of anypreferred construction and which may be mounted on its conductor 63 inany preferred manner for adjustment therealong. In this connection, theconductors 63 are illustrated in the present instance as comprisingnarrow,

:' slotted plates having extending through the slots thereof threadedstuds 65 which carry, beneath said plates, the contact fingers 64 and,above said plates, thumb nuts 66. Accordingly, by loosening any givennut 65 the related contact finger may be slid along the relatedconductor, and by tightening the nut the contact finger may be locked inits adjusted position. However, it will be understood that theconstruction illustrated in this respect merely is representative ofvarious other different structures which may be used in lieu of saidillustrated structure.

Each contact 33 is related to one of the conductors 63 and iselectrically connected therewith as indicated at 61.Accordingly,whenever,the switch arm 36 bridges the circular conductor 32and any one of the contacts 33, an electrical connection is establishedfrom said circular conductor 32, through the switch arm 30 to thecontact 33 engaged by the switch arm, through the related electricalconnection 61 to the related conductor 63 and from said conductor 63through the contact finger 64 carried thereby to the contact with whichsaid contact finger 64 is engaged.

Since there are forty-eight of the contacts 33 spaced apart andposition-ed so that they are successively engaged by the switch arm 30at times corresponding to the beginning of successive fifteen minuteperiods on the face of a clock, and since said contacts 33 are comprisedby groups of four of said contacts corresponding to the four fifteenminute periods represented by a complete rotation of the contact arm 3|during a period of one hour, it follows that, since there are fortyeightof the conductors 63, one related to each contact 33, and forty-eightcontacts in each of the circular series 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62, saidconductors 63 and the related radial rows of contacts with which thecontact fingers 64 cooperate, also are comprised by groups of fourcorresponding to the four fifteen minute periods represented by acomplete rotation of the contact arm 3|.

For the sake of simplifying this description it will be assumed that thefirst contact of each circular series 58, 59, 66, 6| and 62 is relatedto the conductor 63 and the contact 33 corresponding to the vertical ortwelve oclock position of the switch arm 30. Such being the case, itfollows that the second contact of each of said series is related to theconductor 63 and the contact 33 corresponding to the 12:15 oclockposition of the switch arm 36; that the third contact of each of saidseries is related to the conductor 63 and the contact 33 correspondingto the 12:30 oclock position of the switch arm 30 and so on throughoutthe whole of said series of contacts 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62 and theconductors 63. This means, of course, that the first of each group offour contacts in each of the series 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62 is related tothe first set of contacts on the panel 34; that the second of each groupof four contacts in each of said series is related to the second set ofcontacts on the panel 34 and so on for each of the remaining twocontacts of the series 58, 59, 66, 6| and 62 in each group of four ofsaid contacts.

The first contacts of the twelve groups of four of the first series ofcontacts 58 all are connected together by a conductor 68 and thisconductor is connected by a conductor 69 with the contact of the firstset of contacts on the panel 34; the second contacts of the twelvegroups of four of the first series of contacts 58 all are connectedtogether by a conductor 10 and this conductor is connected by aconductor "H with the contact of the second set of contacts on the panel34; the third contacts of the twelve groups of four of the first seriesof contacts 58 all are connected together by a conductor 12 and thisconductor is connected by a conductor 13 with the contact of the thirdset of contacts on the panel 34; and the fourth contacts of the twelvegroups of four of the first series of contacts 58 all are connectedtogether by a conductor l4 and this conductor is connected by aconductor 15 with the contact of the fourth set of contacts on the panel34.

The same connecting scheme as just set forth holds true with respect toeach of the other series of the contacts 59, 60, 6| and 62 and thecontacts on the panel 34. That is to say, the first contacts of thetwelve groups of four of the second series of contacts 59 are connectedtogether by a conductor 16 and this conductor is connected by aconductor H with the contact 36 of the first set on the panel 34; thesecond contacts of the twelve groups of four of the second series ofcontacts 59 all are connected together by a conductor 18 and thisconductor is connected by a conductor 19 with the contact 4| of thesecond set of contacts on the panel 34 and so on, not only in respect tothe two remaining contacts in each group of four in the second series ofcontacts 59, but in respect to the contacts of each group of four in thethree remaining series 60, 6| and 62. In other words, the first contactsof the groups of four in the series 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62 are connectedwith the contacts 35, 36, 31, 36 and 39, respectively of the first setof contacts on the panel 34; the second contacts of the groups of fourin the series 58, 59, 6|], 6| and 62 are connected with the contacts 48,4|, 42, 43 and 44, respectively of the second set of contacts on thepanel 34;

the third contacts of the groups of four in the series 58, 59, 60, SIand 62 are connected with the contacts 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49,respectively, of the third set of contacts on the panel 34; and thefourth contacts of the groups of four in the series 58, 59, 50, BI and52 are connected with the contacts 50, 5!, 52, 53 and 54, respectively,of the fourth set of contacts on the panel 34.

A conductor 80 connects together the contacts 35, and a conductor 9iconnects together the contacts 36', 4!, 49' and 5|; a conductor 82connects together the contacts 3?, 42, 41' and 52'; a conductor 83connects together the contacts 38', 43', 48 and 53; a conductor 04connects together the contacts 39, 44', 49 and 54'; a conductor 95connects together the contacts 55; and a conductor 86 connects togetherthe contacts 55'.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6 and 8 of the, drawings, it will beobserved that a disk 81, preferably of insulating material, is fixed onthe tuning unit shaft I2 and carries on one face thereof, in the presentinstance its rear face, an inner circular track 88 and a pair of outercircular tracks 89 and 90, and that said tracks are concentric with eachother and with respect to the axis of rotation of said disk.

Mounted in any suitable manner on the track 88 for circumferentialadjustment relative to the disk 91 are five solenoids SH, 92, 93, 94 and95, one for each of the five circular series of contacts 58, 59, 69, 6iand 62, which are radially, or substantially radially, disposed andwhich may be fastened in any positions of adjustment along the track 88in any suitable manner. Each of said solenoids includes a core 96, and,moreover, said solenoids are of the type in which their cores 9tnormally are projected outwardly, either by suitable spring means or inany other suitable manner, and are retracted when said solenoids areelectrically energized.

Related to the solenoids 9!, 92., 93, 94 and 95 are five switch actuatorsupports 9?, 99, 99, I99 and NH, respectively, which are mounted in anysuitable manner on the track 89 for circumferential adjustment relativeto the disk 8? and which, as in the case of said solenoids, may befastened in any positions of adjustment along said track 99 in anydesired manner. On each of. said switch actuator supports is mounted aswitch actuator in the form of an arm 592 which is pivoted intermediateits ends to its support and which, at one end, is connected to itsrelated solenoid core by a suitable connecting link E03 and at its otherend is free. In the normal, projected positions of the solenoid cores,the free end portions of the arms l02 are disposed parallel, orsubstantially parallel, to the disk 87, as shown by full lines in Figure6, and in the retracted position of any given solenoid core, the freeend portion of the related arm I02 is disposed at right angles, orsubstantially at right angles, to the plane of the disk 8?, in thepresent instance projecting rearwardly with respect to said disk asillustrated by dotted lines in Figure 6 of the drawings. When the armsI02 are in their normal positions illustrated by full lines in Figure 6,they do not perform any function as a consequence of rotation of thedisk 81, inasmuch as they are disposed forwardly of a spring contactfinger I03 with which they are designed to cooperate. When, however, anygiven arm I02 is swung to a position at right angles to the disk 81, itsfree end then is disposed so that, as a consequence of rotation of thedisk 81, it will strike one side or the other of the spring contactfinger I03, depending upon the direction of rotation of the disk 87.

The spring contact finger I03 may be mounted in any suitable manner andhas cooperating therewith a pair of spring contact fingers I04 and I05which also may be mounted in any suitable manner and which, aredisposed, respectively, at opposite sides of the finger I03. Normallythe three contact fingers I03, I04 and I05 are in circuit closingrelationship, but when the contact finger I93 is engaged by the free endportion of any of the arms I02 and is moved laterally by said arm, it isseparated from one or the other of the contact fingers I04, I05,depending upon the direction of rotation of the disk 0?, and the circuitthrough the finger from which it is separated thereby is opened.

The solenoid SI and the related arm I02 are initially adjusted andfastened circumferentially with respect to the disk 87 so that when thetuning unit is in a correct position. of rotative adjustment to causethe receiver to tune with the wave length or broadcasting stationrelated to the series of contacts 58, the said arm I02, assuming itsright angular relationship to the disk 81, is in a position to engagethe finger I03. The other solenoids and their related arms I 02 aresimilarly initially adjusted and fastened. That is to say, the solenoid92 and its arm I02 are adjusted and fastened so that the arm I02 is in aposition to engage the finger I03 when the tuning unit is in a correctposition of rotative adjustment to cause the receiver to tune with thewave length or broadcasting station related to the series of contacts59, and so on with respect to each of the three remaining solenoids 93,94 and 95 related, respectively, to the remaining three series ofcontacts 60, 6I and 62 which, in turn, are related, respectively, tothree other different wave lengths or broadcasting stations.

Related to the switch actuator supports 91, 90, 99, I00 and IOI are fivecontacts I06, I91, I08, I09 and III], respectively, which are mounted onthe track 90 for circumferential adjustment in harmony with said switchactuator supports and which are designed to be engaged by their relatedarms I02 when said arms are swung to positions at right angles to thedisk 87.

Referring further to Figures 6 and 9 of the drawings, it will beobserved that the tuning unit shaft I2 has fixed thereon an arm III andthat, disposed in the path of rotation of this arm and one hundred andeighty degrees apart, are two spring contact fingers H2 and H3 havingcompanion contact fingers H4 and IE5, respectively, from which they arenormally separated. Accordingly, the circuits controlled 1) said fingersH2, H4 and H3, H5 normally are open, but when, by rotation of the shaftI2, the arm III strikes either of the fingers I I2 or I I3, said fingeris flexed into engagement with its companion finger and the relatedcircuit is closed.

Referring, now, to the diagrammatic view, Figure 10, it will be observedthat the present mechanism includes a reversing switch II6 forcontrolling reversing of the motor I5: that two solenoids H1, H8 areprovided for reversing said switch I I6, and that two additionalsolenoids I I9, I20 are provided for actuating a movable switch elementI2I into and from engagement with a companion switch element or contactI22. It will further be observed that from one side, the positive sidein the present instance, of a suitable source of current, indicated as awall plug I23, a conductor I24 leads to the receiver, designatedgenerally as R, to the five switch acutator supports 91, 98, 99, I andIOI, to the conductor 85 connecting together the contacts 55, to each ofthe contact fingers H2, H3, and also to the conductor ring 32. Further,it will be observed that from the receiver R a conductor I25 leads tothe two switch contacts 22 and 24; and that, from the other side of thesource of current, a conductor I26 leads to the switch contact 23, toone end of the winding of each of the solenoids H9 and I20, to one endof the winding of each of the solenoids H1 and H8, and also to the fieldwinding of the motor I5.

Interposed in the field winding of the motor I is the reversing switchH6, and from said field winding a conductor I21 leads to the springcontact finger I05. From the companion spring contact finger I04 aconductor I28 leads to the switch contact 21, and from the companionswitch contact 26 a conductor I29 leads to the five contact elementsI06, I01, I08, I99, H9.

Connecting the contact finger H4 with the other end of the winding ofthe solenoid H1 is a conductor I 30, and connecting the contact fingerH5 with the other end of the winding of the solenoid H8 is a conductorI3I.

A conductor I32 connects together one end of the winding of each of thesolenoids 9|, 92, 93, 94, and 95 and the other end of the winding of thesolenoid I20. On the other hand, the other ends of the windings of thesolenoids 9|, 92, 93. 94 and 95 are connected by conductors I33, I34,I35, I36 and I31 to the conductors 84, 83, 82, BI and 80, respectively,and the other end of the Winding of the solenoid I I9 is connected by aconductor I38 with the conductor 86. Finally, a conductor I39 connectsthe contacts 25 and I22.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that, upon pushing the knob I4inwardly to couple its shaft I4 with the shaft I9 to enable manualtuning adjustments of the tuning unit, the switch comprising thecontacts 22, 23 will be closed and the switches comprising the contacts24, 25 and 26, 21 will be opened. Accordingly, the receiver circuit willbe closed through the conductors I24, I25, the switch comprising thecontacts 22, 23 and the conductor I26, and, therefore, the receiver maybe manually adjusted and operated in the ordinary, well known manner,all parts comprising the present mechanism being inoperative because ofopening of the switches comprising the contacts 24, 25 and 26, 21. Onthe other hand, by pulling the knob I4 outwardly, its shaft I4 isuncoupled from the shaft I9 and, consequently, from the tuning unit and,at the same time, the switch comprising the contacts 22, 23 is openedand the switches comprising the contacts 24, 25 and 26, 21 are closed.Tuning of the receiver to difi'erent wave lengths at predetermined timesthen is under the automatic control of the present mechanism. Forexample, let it be assumed that the time is approaching twelve oclock.and that, any time prior to twelve o'clock. it had been decided that theprogram desired to be heard from twelve oclock until 12:15 o'clock isthe program broadcast by the station to which the series of contacts 58is related. Under such conditions, the contact finger 64 on the firstconductor 63, that is, the conductor 63 corresponding to thetwelve-oclock position of the hands of a clock, is, any time prior totwelve oclock, adjusted along said first conductor to a position inwhich it engages the related contact of the series of contacts 50. Then,as the time approaches twelve oclock and the contacts 55, 55 are bridgedby the contact 51 of the switch arm 3| moving in harmony with the minutehand of the clock, an initial operation, due to the contacts 55, 55being disposed slightly in advance of the remaining contacts of thefirst set on the panel 34, occurs as follows: A circuit is closed fromthe conductor I24 through the conductors 65 and 86 now electricallyconnected together by bridging of the contacts 55, 55 by the contact 51of the switch arm 3!, to the conductor I38, and through the solenoid H9to the conductor I26, thereby the switch arm |2| is swung to open theswitch comprised by said switch arm and the contact I22. This turns ofithe receiver R because said switch I2I, I22 is included in the receivercircuit when the knob I4 is in its pulled position, as indicated inFigure 10.

The receiver remains turned off for a brief period of time until thecontact arm 3| reaches the position in which its contacts 56 bridge theremaining contacts 35, 35', etc. of the first set of contacts on thepanel 34. When this occurs, a circuit is closed through the conductorI24, the conductor ring 32, the contact arm 30, the contact 33 relatedto the first conductor 63, the related conductor 61, the said firstconductor 63, the contact finger 64, the contact of the series 53 withwhich the finger 64 is engaged, the conductors 68, 69, the contacts 35,35 bridged by the related contact 56 on the switch arm 3|, the conductor80, the conductor I31, the solenoid 95, the conductor I32, the solenoidI20 and the conductor I26. Thereby, the switch I2I, I22 is closedclosing the receiver circuit, but the receiver does not receiveimmediately due to the time required for its tubes to heat up. Thesolenoid 95 was, of course, energized simultaneously with energizat-ionof the solenoid I23, and this resulted in swinging of the related switchactuator arm I02 to a position at right angles to the disk 81, at thesame time closing the switch comprised by the support 91 and the contactI06. Accordingly, another circuit was closed from the conductor I24through the switch 91, I02, I06, the conductor I29, the bridged contacts26, 21, the conductor I28, the spring contacts I04, I03, I05 and theconductor I21 to the motor I5, including the reversing switch H6, andfrom the motor through the conductor I26. Accordingly, the motor beganto rotate in one direction or the other, depending upon the position ofthe reversing switch I I6 when the motor circuit was closed, therebyrotating the tuning unit and the disk 81 and the solenoids and switchactuator arms carried by said disk.

The motor circuit obviously remains closed as long as the contacts 35,35 are bridged and the switch I03, I04, I65 remains closed. In thisconnection it also is obvious, assuming bridging of contacts 35, 35' anda closed status of the switch 203, I94, I55, that the motor willoscillate through an angle of 180 due to engagement of the arm IIIalternately with the spring contact fingers H2, H3 and causing them toengage their related contact fingers I I4, I I5, thereby causing thesolenoids 2 I1, I I8 to be energized alternately with consequentactuation of the motor reversing switch H6. Accordingly, as long as themotor circuit is closed the motor oscillates, hunting the correct tuningposition for the tuning unit as determined by engagement with thecontact finger I03 of whichever of the arms I02 happens to be positionedto engage said contact finger. In this connection it is apparent that,since the solenoids on the disk 81 are individually related to theseries of contacts 58, 59, '80, 6| and 62 representing diiferent Wavelengths or broadcasting stations, and that, since a circuit cannot beclosed through more than one of the contacts of all of said series atany given time, not more than one of the solenoids 9|, 92, 93, 94 or maybe energized at any given time and, consequently, only one of the armsI02 may be projected at any given time. Also, it will be recalled thatthe solenoids (H, 92, 93, 94 and 95 and their related arms E92 initiallyare adjusted so that whenever any given solenoid is energized and itsarm I02 is projected and is engaged with the contact finger I03, thetuning unit is correctly tuned to the wave length or broadcastingstation to which that particular solenoid is related. Therefore,according to the example heretofore given, the motor will rotate in onediretcion or the other, and, if necessary, reverse its direction ofrotation, until the projected arm I02 related to the solenoid 95 engagesone side or the other of the contact finger I03 and opens the switchI03, I04, I05. This will open the motor circuit and adjustment of thetuning unit will be halted with the tuning unit in correct tuningposition for the wave length or broadcasting station to which thesolenoid 95 is related. With opening of the motor circuit the energystored in the contact finger I03 will be suificient to slightly rotatethe motor in a direction opposite the direction in which it was rotatingand the switch I03, I04, I05 will close, again closing the motorcircuit. Accordingly, there will continue what may be termed a bouncingof the arm, I02 against the spring finger I03 as ion-g as the contacts35, 35' remain bridged, but as soon as the circuit is opened at thecontacts 35, 35, the motor and the tuning unit come to rest, with thetuning unit properly tuned to the wave length or broadcasting station towhich the series of contacts 58 are related.

Only a very brief period of time is required for the tuning adjustmentto be effected, and during this time the receiver is silent due to thesame having been turned off shortly prior to initiation of the tuningoperation and due to the time required for it to heat up following itsturning on simultaneously with initiation of the tuning operation.Consequently, undesirable noises which might be produced if the receiverwere operative during the tuning operation, are avoided.

Following the tuning operation described, the receiver operates over thefifteen minute period which elapses during travel of the contact arm 30to the second contact 33 and during travel of the contact arm 3| to thesecond set of contacts on the panel 34. Here the operation justrecounted is repeated, assuming the contact finger 64 of the secondconductor 63 is engaged with the related contact in the series ofcontacts 58, for the second contact in the series of contacts 58 has thesame relationship to the contacts 40, 40' of the second set of contactson the panel 34 as the first contact of said series of contacts 58 hasto the contacts 35, 35 of the first set of contacts on said panel 34,the contacts 35' and 40 being connected to the same solenoid.

Had the contact finger 04 of the first conductor 63 been engaged, forexample, with the first contact in the series 59, the operationrecounted would have been the same except, obviously, that the solenoid94 would have been energized and the tuning unit would have beenadjusted according to the position of said solenoid 94 on the disk 81,that is, to tune with the wave length or broadcasting stationrepresented by the series of contacts 59.

By the time the contact arm 3| has moved through a complete revolutionor cycle, the contact arm 30 has successively engaged four of thecontacts 33. Accordingly, a new cycle of op eration begins with movementof the contact arm 30 into engagement with the fifth contact 33. Thereason for connecting together the contacts of the series 58, 59, 60, GIand 62 in the manner heretofore described therefore will be apparent. Itwill further be apparent that by setting the contact fingers 64 of thesucccssive conductors 83 each on the related contact of a selectedseries of the contacts 58, 59, 80, BI and 62, the mechanism will operateautomatically at fifteen minute intervals to tune the receiver to thedefinte broadcast program desired during each fifteen minute period.

If, during any given fifteen minute period it should be desired that thereceiver remain silent, the contact finger on the conductor 83 in con--trol of that fifteen minute period simply is adjusted to a position inwhich it does not engage any related contact.

As will be apparent, merely by increasing or decreasing the number ofcontacts 33, 83, etc. and the number of sets of contacts on the panel34, and by correspondingly changing the connections between the variousrelated contacts, the mechanism may be adapted to operate at other thanfifteen minute intervals. Moreover, it is apparent that the number ofwave lengths or broadcasting stations with respect to which I;-

and the number of solenoids 9H, 92, etc., and their related parts whichmay be provided.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a time-scheduled radio receiving system, a radio receiverincluding means adjustable to tune the same to different wave lengths, areversible motor and cooperating means included in the circuit thereoffor reversibly adjusting said tuning means, clock-operated means forcausing closing the circuit of said motor at predetermined times, saidmotor circuit including a normally closed switch and a plurality ofindividually and selectively electrically operable actuators for saidswitch, adjustable in harmony with said tuning means and having normalpositions in which they are ineffective to actuate said switch andoperative positions to which they are operated when energized and inwhich they are effective to open said switch responsive to adjustment ofthe tuning means in either direction to different positions determinedby the positions of said actuators relative to said tuning means, andmanually adjustable means cooperating with said clock operated means toexclude all but one of said actuators from the motor circuit at anygiven time and to select the actuator that is included in the motorcircuitat any given time.

2. In a time-scheduled radio receiving system, a radio receiverincluding a tuning unit rotatably adjustable to tune the receiver todifferent wave lengths, a reversible motor and cooperating means in thecircuit thereof for reversibly rotatably adjusting said tuning unit, anormally closed switch in the motor circuit having a fixed position, aplurality of actuators for opening said switch, said actuators beingcollectively reversibly rotatable with said tuning unit and beingangularly spaced apart, and having normal positions in which they areineffective to open said switch responsive to their rotation, electricaldevices individual to said actuators for operating them to positions inwhich they are effective to open said switch responsive to theirrotation with the tuning unit in either direction, said devices beingoperable when energized to close the motor circuit, and cooperatingmanually adjustable and clock-operated means effective to select one ofsaid devices and to close a circuit therethrough at a predeterminedtime.

3. In a time-scheduled radio receiving system, a radio receiverincluding a tuning unit rotatably adjustable to tune the receiver todifferent wave lengths, a reversible motor and cooperating means in thecircuit thereof for reversibly rotatably adjusting said tuning unit, anormally closed switch in the motor circuit having a fixed position, aplurality of actuators for opening said switch, said actuators beingcollectively reversibly rotatable with said tuning unit and beingangularly spaced apart, and having normal positions in which they areineffective to open said switch responsive to their rotation, electricaldevices individual to said actuators for operating them to positions inwhich they are effective to open said switch responsive to theirrotation with the tuning unit in either direction, and cooperatingmanually adjustable and clock operated switch means effective atdifferent predetermined times to select one of said devices and close acircuit therethrough, said devices and actuators being angularlyadjustable relative to the tuning means.

4. A time-scheduled radio receiving system as set forth in claim 3, inwhich a switch for reversing said motor is included in the motorcircuit, in which electro-magnetic means are provided for actuating saidswitch, and in which switch means controlled by operation of the motorcontrol operation of said electro-magnetic means.

5. A time-scheduled radio receiving system as set forth in claim 3including a rotatable and push-pull element effective by push-pulloperation to connect and disconnect the same to and from the tuningunit,said element,when connected with the tuning unit, being manuallyrotatable to rotatably adjust the same, and switch means operable bypush-pull actuation of said element to include the time-scheduledcontrol means for the receiver in circuit with the receiver when saidelement is disconnected from the tuning unit, and to disconnect thetime-scheduled control means from the receiver circuit when said elementis connected with the tuning unit.

6. A time-scheduled radio receiving system as set forth in claim 2 inwhich the switch actuators constitute the movable elements of switchesfor closing the motor circuit.

'7. In a time-scheduled radio receiving system, a radio receiverincluding a tuning unit rotatably adjustable to tune the receiver todifferent wave lengths, a motor for rotating said tuning unit, a diskrotatable with said tuning unit, a normally closed switch in the circuitof said motor having a fixed position, a plurality of actuators foropening said switch, said actuators being carried by said disk and beingangularly adjustable with respect thereto, said actuators having normalpositions in which they are ineffective, responsive to rotation of saiddisk, to open said switch, and

having operative positions in which they are effective, responsive torotation of said disk, to open said switch, a normally deenergizedsolenoid individual to each of said actuators operable, when energized,to move its related actuator to its operative position, a plurality ofnormally open switches in the motor circuit any one of which, whenclosed, closes the motor circuit, said normally open switches beingindividual to said actuators, said actuators, when moved to theiroperative positions, being effective to close the motor circuit, andcooperating manually adjustable and clock-operated switches effective toselect different of said solenoids at different predetermined times andto close a circuit therethrough.

8. A time-scheduled radio receiving system as set forth in claim '7including means for opening the circuit of the receiver just prior toclosing of the circuit through the selected solenoid and to close thereceiver circuit shortly after closing of the circuit through theselected solenoid.

9. In a time-scheduled radio receiving system, a radio receiverincluding a tuning unit rotatably adjustable to tune the receiver todiiferent wave lengths, a motor for rotatably adjusting said tuningunit, a normally closed switch in the circuit of said motor, a pluralityof electrically operable normally open switches in the circuit of saidmotor any one of which, when closed, is effective to close the motorcircuit, said normally closed switch having a fixed position, saidnormally open switches being collectively rotatable in harmony with thetuning unit and angularly spaced with respect thereto and beingineffective, when open, to open said normally closed switch, but beingeffective, when closed, to open said normally closed switch responsiveto rotation of said tuning unit, and cooperating manually adjustable andclock-operated means for individually and selectively closing thecircuits of said normally open switches at predetermined times.

DONALD BARBIE.

